Family seeks justice for battered son

A TAI PO family has appealed to Governor Chris Patten and Police Commissioner Eddie Hui Ki-on, asking them to speed up investigations into the death of their son a day after he was beaten by police.

Legislative Council security panel chairman, Selina Chow Leung Suk-yee, also wants action on the case. She has demanded a coroner's inquiry and more transparency in police investigations.

Relatives of Lee Shing-tat, 37, who died on March 7, claim he was subjected to a 20-minute beating by three officers while shopping in busy Fu Shin street market on March 6.

Police said he refused to hand over his identity card during a routine check, but witnesses said Lee was beaten and forced to the ground, where he continually cried out, asking to be taken to the police station.

Residents told the Sunday Morning Post that about 100 people crowded around as the three plainclothes officers of the Police Tactical Unit (PTU) attacked Lee.

He filed a complaint concerning the officers' actions a few hours later, but after he missed an appointment with his lawyer about the incident the next day, was found dead in his flat.

Lee's brother, Stephen Lee Shing-hong, said the family was appealing directly to Mr Patten and Mr Hui because it had been stone-walled in its attempts to have the matter investigated openly.

'We want to see justice done, so we have appealed to the Governor and to the Commissioner of Police in the hope that this will help bring about some action,' Mr Lee said.

'CAPO [the Complaints Against Police Office] took almost two weeks before sending us an official confirmation that they are handling my brother's case, but we are completely in the dark as to their progress. We have not even had a call from them.' Ms Chow said more transparency was required in the investigations.

'It is inhumane and unfair to the family. Police and government cannot operate behind closed doors - a man is dead,' she said. 'A coroner's inquest should be held in order to establish the cause of death.' Tai Po District Inspector (Crime), Lo Mung-hung said his officers and CAPO were carrying out investigations.

'We are looking at two aspects to the case, the complaint itself and the cause of death,' Mr Lo said.

Samples of medication being taken by Lee Shing-tat for epilepsy are being examined, but a detailed pathologist's report will not be completed for at least two weeks.

'If there is anything amiss, then we shall recommend a death inquest,' Mr Lo said.

CAPO Chief Superintendent, Lau Chun-sing confirmed the report into the death was submitted to the coroner's office, which would determine whether an inquest was necessary.

'It is better for one unit to do the investigation,' he said.

'The district crime squad undertakes it and CAPO monitors. We do not interview the witnesses. In due course, we will report to the Independent Police Complaints Council.

'We are monitoring the case and the investigation into the cause of death, but we have our own internal guidelines and I cannot release the details.' Mr Lau said the three officers allegedly involved in the beating were not based at Tai Po, but were PTU officers from New Territories headquarters.

Members of the PTU carried out border patrols, and anti-illegal immigrant and crime duties, which involved searching suspects, he said.

Under normal circumstances, police would not check an individual's identity unless they suspected the person was an illegal immigrant, or carrying dangerous drugs or a firearm.

In the first three months of this year, there were nine complaints in the New Territories against the police. Tai Po registered three.